Raleigh

Community-focused posts

There are 773 posts filed in Raleigh (this is page 56 of 78).

Chapel Hill urged to oppose Senate broadband bill

BY DANIEL GOLDBERG : The Herald-Sun
Apr 14, 2009

CHAPEL HILL — For the second time in two years, North Carolina municipalities are being urged to push back against legislation that would make it more difficult for local governments to provide cable and broadband services.

The Chapel Hill Town Council will receive a citizen petition on Wednesday that asks for a resolution in opposition to Senate Bill 1004, the so-called “Level Playing Field” bill. Small business owner Brian Russell, the petitioner, believes that the bill essentially prevents municipalities from providing broadband services and stifles economic development.

Read more behind the Herald-Sun’s idiotic RegisterWall.

Raleigh buses add digital TV

Looks like the mystery Raleigh announcement for today is indeed mobile digital TV on a Raleigh bus. WRAL posted the announcement 10 minutes ago. According to the story, riders of Raleigh’s R-Line downtown circulator will be able to watch digital TV as well as get city updates and real-time information on bus routes. By August 2009 four CAT buses will also provide the service. The article also mentions “two-way” and “interactive” but doesn’t provide details about what this means. WiFi on the buses?

Cheviot Hills

I saw today that the old Cheviot Hills golf course has now been plowed under. All the trees on the middle of the property have been cleared out, leaving little trace of the fairways that were once there.

I haven’t heard much about how the property will be used. Last word I can find in the media is that car lots are going there. Since its owned by car dealers I am curious about the timing of the construction, as folks have all but stopped buying cars due to the economy. I suppose we’ll see in the next few weeks. Even so, I’m sad to see the old golf course go.

Something’s afoot in the City of Raleigh

mystery-invitation-smallI got a mysterious email invitation this afternoon from the City of Raleigh. It reads:

The City of Raleigh invites you to enjoy your coffee break Tuesday, April 14, celebrating a local partnership that is producing a significant “FIRST IN THE U.S.A.”

10 A.M., Tuesday, April 14
Raleigh Convention Center
Salisbury Street and Lenoir Street

I understand a different invite went to the city councilors that read:

The City of Raleigh and the Transit Authority invite you to enjoy your coffee break Tuesday, April 14 celebrating a local partnership that is producing a technological “FIRST IN THE USA!”

Please join us at 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 14 at the Raleigh Convention Center’s Salisbury Street and Lenoir Street plaza.

As you can see, the second one mentions the “Transit Authority” and “technological first.” I wonder what this means.

  • A GPS bus locator? No, that’s old hat. Been done already.
  • WiFi on city buses? Certainly possible, but what’s the local partnership angle?.
  • Mobile digital TV on city buses? This one makes more sense.

Capitol Broadcasting (home of WRAL) has been tinkering with mobile digital TV and has some devices built.

Capitol’s new mobile technology spinoff company is called News Over Wireless and is certainly local. But would transit passengers be forced to watch all-WRAL, all the time, or would other stations also be available?

On the other hand, it could have nothing to do with TV and could be some sort of other transit innovation. A Prius-branded bus? Electric vehicle recharging stations? Again, what would be the local partnership angle, and what about this would be worthy of such subterfuge?

This is all speculation at this point, as I haven’t gleaned any more insights. I do hope to be around for Tuesday’s unveiling of Whatever It Is.

Meeting break

It’s Crunch Week for me. The third week of the month is like that. Here’s my agenda for the week:

  • Monday 5:30 – 6:30 Gather and deliver donations to neighbor in need
  • Monday 7:00 PM – 9:45 PM – Conduct monthly East CAC meeting
  • Tuesday – off
  • Wednesday 5:30 PM – 8:45 PM Raleigh CAC meeting/workshop
  • Thursday 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Parks board meeting
  • Thursday 6:30 PM – 8 PM Comprehensive Plan hearing
  • Friday 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM volunteer at the Rhine

What a crazy life, but a satisfying one.

Mystery spot

poole-road-mystery-spot
Anyone know what this is? It’s a spot between Poole Road and New Bern Avenue.

It looks like a remnant of some now-defunct factory or something.

Waah-fi

I was all psyched when I learned Friday that Raleigh is seeking bids to build a free wireless network downtown. Finally, Raleigh puts some effort towards bring some high-tech to downtown, maybe enough to convince more software companies to call downtown home. It would also make downtown Raleigh very visitor-friendly, as our guests would have the ability to make the most of their visit (and, spend their money) while they’re here. Imagine my surprise when I found the comments on the New Raleigh blog had turned into a major whine-fest.

If the city wants to put wireless in the city’s public spaces – for the public to use – I’m all for it. It’s a cheap investment in making our city more tech-savvy as well as friendlier to guests. If you’re just going to whine that Downtowners have all the fun, come on down: we’re happy to share!

Plensa’s “Sleep No More” … yawn

I drove by Durham the other night and saw the beam of light radiating from Spanish artist Jaume Plensa’s “Sleep No More” piece. I consider myself a “patron” of the arts, but this Highbeam To Heaven does nothing for me. I can’t stop thinking it’s just more light pollution blotting out the true beauty of the night sky.